One-piece ball display device

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a ball display device consisting of a tray having four corners. Each of the corners is structurally slanted inwardly toward the bottom of the tray to exhibit resting areas for a ball to be placed thereon. The tray also has slanted side walls slanting downwardly to a bottom of the tray. The slanting side walls are aids to properly display any ball that is placed on the tray. The display device can include the display of any ball of any size and shape.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FED SPONSORED R & D

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The proposed invention generally relates to sports equipment storage and display devices, more specifically, to a simplified ball holder of a one piece structure to accept a nested storage of a variety of ball shapes and sizes while providing means for attachment to shelves and flat surfaces.

Storing and displaying a wide assortment of basket balls, soccer balls, kick balls, volley balls, foot balls and the like is often problematic. Round balls tend to roll aimlessly about closets, garages and playroom areas when unattended or not restrained from movement and, therefore, readily become a hazard rolling about the floor area. Also when displayed as prized, autographed, or collected memorabilia balls tend to roll uncontrolled unless otherwise restrained. The invention provides an improved way of openly displaying and retaining such items when they are displayed and includes a way to secure the device if desired. The inventive device includes a way for securing and storing inflation needles which are necessary for maintaining ball inflation.

Previous ball storage or ball display devices may dedicate themselves to store a limited variety of balls by including features to contain and secure specific sizes and shapes of particular balls. Some storage devices become excessively large and bulky while attempting to accommodate additional storage features for related sports equipment other than the balls. Previous devices may include enclosures that defeat an open display of the ball. And previous devices may not include a way of a secure attachment to flat surfaces. Also previous devices may include multiple piece parts that often defeat simplicity and are difficult to clean and are excessively large for the function of an individual ball display.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,413,762 describes a game ball holder that secures and displays a tennis ball during play. This device is not applicable for shelf or household display of various prized or collectible sport balls, but like similar devices is dedicated to securing a specific sport ball to benefit the related sport activity.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,249 describes a device that specifically encloses a specific sport ball in a transparent display case of multiple components allowing a rotation of the displayed ball. This device neglects the simplicity of a single piece and open display stand that readily accepts various shaped balls without concern of adjustments or enclosures.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,036,010 describes a game ball box enclosure to permit a display of packaged balls. This device is limited to a specific ball size and provides abbreviated protective enclosure panels allowing display of the ball. The device is intended to benefit a retailer display and remain inappropriate for owner use as storage or display o prized or collectable sport balls.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,199,804 describes a device to display a sports memorabilia such as foot ball. This device includes multiple parts and components requirements requiring adjustment or alteration to accommodate varied ball sizes and shapes and lacks the advantage of a one piece simplicity.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,040 describes a ball holder of a cord holder and multiple legs comprising a stand for multiple ball storage. This device does not address the function individual of an individual ball display and is not applicable and is not applicable to shelf mounting.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,105 describes a ball holder permitting required adjustment for a variety of ball sizes, but this device is dedicated to vertical wall mountings an has no specific features for place placement or attachment to a flat horizontal surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,711 describes a ball holder to accept a variety of ball sizes, but this device is dedicated to a wall or pole mounting and does not include specific features for placement or attachment to a flat horizontal surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ball holder;

FIG. 2 shows a round ball displayed on the ball holder;

FIG. 3 shows an oblong ball displayed on the ball holder;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates the basic tray 1 to support a ball to be displayed. The basic tray has upstanding corners 2, 3, 4 and 5. Each of the corners has a depending and slanting inner wall 2 a, 3 a, 4 a and 5 a. The slanting walls slant inwardly toward the bottom 9 of the tray. between the four corners 2, 3, 4 and 5 there are four lower side walls 6, 7. 8 and 9 as connectors between the corners. The lower side walls are also slanting inwardly at 6 a, 7 a; 8 a and 9 a (not shown) toward the bottom 12 of the tray. The bottom 12 of tray 1 has one or more holes 10 therein for use as a fastening system to fasten the tray to an underlying surface. Of course, any other fastening system may be used. At one of the walls there is shown a blank section 11 which can be used for any data to identify the sporting data of achievements.

The ball holder is preferably made out of a one piece material such as injection molding or is made out of a one piece wood by carving. The one piece holder can also be made out of paper maché material. It is intended to be light weight and should be sturdy or rigid enough to support the weight of a standard ball. There is also a provision be made store an appliance to be used to maintain the ball in its condition, that is, fully inflated. It is well known that an inflated ball in a long run will lose its initially inflated pressure due to leakage. To reinflate the displayed ball, a pressure reinflating needle 13 is stored in a storage hole 12 in the tray.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the basic tray with the same reference characters having been applied as were with reference to FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 shows a round ball B₁ being displayed;

FIG. 3 shows an oblong ball B₂ being displayed. 

1. A ball display device comprising a tray, said tray having four corners, a structure of each of said four corners is slanting inwardly toward a bottom of said tray, thereby creating slanted surfaces on which said ball may rest, said tray having side walls which are slanting upwardly to form said tray and at the same time form seating areas for said ball placed into said tray.
 2. The ball display device of claim 1 including fastening holes in the bottom of said tray for passing fasteners there through for fastening said tray to an underlying surface.
 3. The ball display device of claim 1, wherein said side walls are lower in height dimension than said corners.
 4. The ball display device of claim 1 including a display area on one of said side walls to display achievement date.
 5. The ball display device of claim 1 including means for storing ball accesory devices. 